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NASA eyeing MMOG space

Exploring the possibilities of outer space without actually leaving Earth seems to have become the primary goal of NASA since its Apollo heyday. In its latest move to bring civilization one step closer to conquering the stars, the US space-exploration agency is sending out feelers in the massively multiplayer online game space, reports the BBC.

NASA's proposed game will be primarily geared toward students and reportedly "simulate real NASA engineering and science missions." NASA is looking to partner with a game development company who can offer a "powerful physics"-based game engine that is able to "support accurate in-game experimentation and research."

"A high quality synthetic gaming environment is a vital element of NASA's educational cyberstructure," reads the request for information obtained by the BBC. "A NASA-based MMO could provide opportunities for students to investigate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career paths while participating in engaging game-play." Activities proposed by NASA in the document include experimenting with chemical reactions in living cells, simulating maintenance work on high-cost equipment, and virtually experiencing microgravity.

41 Comments

  • Frags-o-Plenty

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 9:46 am PT

    Well, that's one way to eliminate all that single-click combate.

    Hell, who am I kidding. This is awesome.

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  • Mercanis

    Posted Jan 26, 2008 6:07 pm PT

    Hopefully NASA's product will be as good as the Army's government funded first-person shooter.

    But you know what will happen: Chinese farming operations will take over all the shuttle-building quests and ruin the space economy.

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  • SciFiCat

    Posted Jan 25, 2008 12:56 pm PT

    It sounds more like a virtual enviroment for study and work porpuses than a game. I don't see any appeal to it beyond to those that already are studying to become aerospace engineers. Sounds interesting on paper but it could end up very dry as a product. Besides, I don't think I'll get good lootz for looking at a Petry dish for 3 hours, good drop rate or not.

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  • chris_klein

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 4:40 pm PT

    Where do I sign up?

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  • jaredcrazy3232

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 9:03 am PT

    i'd play it as i don't have a problem with NASA, but America's Army, i have a problem with.

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  • Lazdude

    Posted Jan 21, 2008 8:17 am PT

    Probably one of the craziest ideas for an MMO I've heard, but I can see the relevance in such a medium, not so much as a game but rather a way to educate online in new ways.

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  • DaveC5244

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 2:04 pm PT

    sounds extremely retarded imo, who would have ever enjoy playing this game? good in theory, but probably really dumb, and poorly executed

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  • TehEliteElite

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    Sounds cool, although I would like to know how they'll deal with the likely slow pacing....

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  • cdogg3

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 11:59 am PT

    Hopefully it isn't P2P
    I'll probably only try it if it's F2P, unless it's B2P and turns out to be really good.

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  • mmogoon

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 6:30 am PT

    I'd play it.

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  • Azwhtknight

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 5:28 am PT

    Who knows, maybe it will also lead to the development of some new technology. You never know, maybe somebody who wouldn't otherwise be able to contribute feedback or ideas might come up with something that didn't dawn on the NASA engineers. I think that it could help to spark the interest of a new generation and will help NASA to broaden the interest in space exploration.

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  • margav

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 4:25 am PT

    Guys who like spacefaring check this game = http://www.infinity-universe.com/

    it will have 200 billion stars, MMORPG, great graphics, newtonian physics, planetary seamless landings, cities , etc.

    its twitch based, huge spaceships ( biggest modelled yet is about 5km long)
    margav.

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  • teirdome

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 4:22 am PT

    Kinda exciting that you'll be able to join in on NASA experiments. Hopefully they can pull this off.

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  • Erebus

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 4:21 am PT

    Curious.. I'd definitely sign up and give it a go....

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  • londonrider

    Posted Jan 20, 2008 2:04 am PT

    I'm in!

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  • trodeback

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 9:05 pm PT

    Isn't this a cheap knockoff of America's Army?

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  • gbrading 

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 2:00 pm PT

    Perpetual Entertainment is selling Star Trek Online... That's an MMO... In space... I wonder if NASA is interested.

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  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 1:53 pm PT

    lol this reminds me of playing moonbase on our library computers way back when in elementry school. that and littlfe fighter 2

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  • stakex007

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 11:43 am PT

    Hmmm this could be quite entertaining. This would be a fun change from the current MMO world. Tho with NASA's money crunch I kinda wonder where they are getting the cash to do such a project.

    On the other hand, I can see it now.. "heY n00b.... get awy fro my l337 r0ver!"

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  • Lycen

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 6:52 am PT

    YAY for space age!!

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  • panzer_marine

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 5:18 am PT

    Will be great if plasma rifles are provided..

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  • SmallPower

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 3:05 am PT

    Sounds very interesting and full of potential. If the number of comments to a news blurb like this are an indication of general interest, it's too bad the inbred America's Army hordes don't seem to care. If it's not about some irrelevant console war, or censorship of torture porn like Manhunt, it's not news.

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  • Merl57

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 10:45 pm PT

    sounds boring

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  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 9:59 pm PT

    MMO, the perfect virtual testing grounds.

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  • satchell78

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 7:23 pm PT

    the big yellow one is the sun

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  • V-Nine

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 5:36 pm PT

    If said development picksup where Mission Space at Epcot Center left off..I am so there.

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  • Megawizard1

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 4:56 pm PT

    Nothing says fun like sitting down at the computer after a hard day's work to decode a DNA helix!

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  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 4:34 pm PT

    Something tells me the pace would slow. -Really really slow.

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  • Adam_the_Nerd

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    IF this turns out to be some half-baked edutainment crud, then I'll pass. If you make a REALISTIC space-exploration game, that's just boring. The whole point of space games is to be fake and Sci-fi based.

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  • imnodewd

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 3:19 pm PT

    Doubt that this will be funded well enough to be actually any good. Plus, I'd rather NASA use my tax money for actual science, and leave the video game developing to those who are already in the business.

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  • Alastes

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 2:56 pm PT

    Wow this sounds like it could be a lot of fun actually. It would be nice to have a realistic sim of something like this.

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  • infect999

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 2:56 pm PT

    is it a game or a simulation of everything they do at NASA to explore? if it's the latter, then it could lead to a whole lot of boring calculus/geometry problems. hopefully they understand that they'll have to let go of reality if they want anyone to use this other than college professors and astronomy enthusiasts.

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  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    "Exploring the possibilities of outer space without actually leaving Earth seems to have become the primary goal of NASA since its Apollo heyday."

    lol, he thinks the Moon landing was a hoax.

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  • SlyCoopersButt7

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    Looks and sounds very interesting. I'm always into anything of that sort.

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  • gonzalezj1

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 2:05 pm PT

    Keep in mind that this is going to be an educational game.
    I doubt this is going to be something that they're going to take pre-orders for at GameStop.
    Sounds to me more like a program that will be sold to school systems.

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  • Wolverine1701

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 1:55 pm PT

    I'd be interested. Curious to see where it goes. Been a while since I had a decent sci fi MMO to dabble in.

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  • Boo_looDODO

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 1:45 pm PT

    Something different for a change!

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  • Razgard4612

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 1:22 pm PT

    sounds cool but it might be to complicated for some. but then again it is for people who want to get in the field. it might work

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  • DaFrop

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 1:21 pm PT

    That is amazing! I want in!

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  • Zoomer30

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 1:14 pm PT

    Ok, now make it so the best player gets to be an astronaut and I am sold

    Kidding, sounds cool, I am a 100% space nerd, so I will play it.

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  • spitfire1856

    Posted Jan 18, 2008 1:08 pm PT

    Interesting, as long as this doesn't turn into something akin to WolfQuest.

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